NHRC demands report from UP govt

The statement was all the more shocking since the Bajrang Dal was a part of the Sangh Parivar, whose constituents are in the ruling alliance at the Centre, Congress spokesman Anil Shastri said.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the Bajrang Dal’s statement reported in a section of the press, the NRHC issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government asking for an immediate report on the reported activities of the Bajrang Dal.

The news item quoted a local leader of the Bajrang Dal, Dharmendra Sharma, from the Braj region near Mathura, as declaring that Christians are “bigger enemies than Muslims” and also that “his organisation was ready to fight wherever church institutions were active”. "Maar-peet to kya hum sab kuchch karne ke liye taiyar hain (we are prepared to use violence. There is no limit),” the item quoted him as saying. Sharma said that at a national convention of the Bajrang Dal held in Brindavan in March this year “the danger posed by the Christian community was discussed and a decision has been taken to launch a campaign against church institutions,” it added. Sharma reportedly felt that every time there was such a crime, the Bajrang Dal’s name should be taken as it would result in the Hindus respecting the organisation even more with the Christians fearing it. The Commission has also issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, elaborating on the “need to take a holistic view as well as to inspirerquisite confidence amongst the people of Christian community who appear to be feeling insecure at this time.”

At a meeting held under the chairmanship of Justice Mohammad Shamim, the National Minorities Commission also condemned the “communal and inflammatory” statements made by the Bajrang Dal and expressed concern that it could led to communal tension in the country.